What Do People Eat Around the World? 


Study the images below carefully. You will see the weekly family food consumption / food shop for 12 different families in 12 different countries around the world. You can click on each image to enlarge and copy it for the activity below. 

Task 1 - Match up each of the photos with the names of the families using the PowerPoint file below. 
​

Task 2 - Your job is to now work individually to produce a presentation (Canva, PowerPoint etc.) to show the differences in weekly diets for three different countries at different levels of economic development (LIC - MIC - HIC).

​The photos above were taken by Peter Menzel and you can see better quality versions of the photos above by clicking on this link.

You should choose three of the families above and create a display that includes: 

1. The three photos including the name of the family and their total weekly spend on their food

2. One map that shows the location of each of the countries

3. The developmental data for each of these three countries (GDP per capita, life expectancy, literacy rate - and overall HDI score)

4. Detailed analysis of each photo giving reasons for the very different diets that each family has and the impacts that has on the family, health, nutrition etc. 


Extension: Use the link at the top of this section to choose one more family and complete one last annotation of their diet. The Australia family is quite interesting!! 


​A World Of Plenty of Food & Drink? 
​

Picture

​

Task 1 - Supersize Me (2004)

Watch the opening sequence of Supersize Me - a documentary film from 2004.  Spend 10 minutes researching the film and create a brief fact sheet about the plot.  You can use these prompts as your starting point.

Here is a review site for the film. 


​Task 2  - Watch this short video about a different sort of Malnutrition. 

You will study the impacts of malnutrition on children in some of the poorest countries in the world (LIC's) but what about in the richest countries ( HIC's)?

Does malnutrition exist there in a different form?

Then check out this article from the BBC. 

Read the article linked above and make notes on the likely spread of obesity around the world. 


​Extension Task - Create a 1 side of A4 factsheet on Word or PowerPoint about obesity. You should include:


1. The causes
2. The effects (same link as above)
3. The countries most affected - link 
4. Why the Pacific Islands have such a problem - link 
5. One map & one image. 


Task 3 - Use the video below to make notes on the problems caused by food waste around the world? Is it acceptable that food waste is a 'thing' despite many millions of people in the world who go hungry every day? 


Add a second slide to your obesity PowerPoint entitled 'Food Waste is the World's Dumbest Problem' and outline the message from the video below. Try to include data and places in your slide(s). 

Task 4 - Of course, it isn't just food that can be consumed in excessive quantities. Drinks can too. In particular soft drinks like Coca Cola. Watch the video below that contains some shocking details about the consumption of Coca Cola in some communities in Mexico.

​Use the note taking framework below to take notes as you are watching 24 minute documentary. There are some quite shocking parts of the video, so beware! 
​


A  World Of  Hunger? 
​

​Hunger is worsening worldwide. As many as 828 million people — about 10% of the global population — regularly go to bed hungry. Economic shocks, extreme weather events, and conflicts like the war in Ukraine have restricted global food supplies, driven up prices, and presented a threat to vulnerable populations and countries.
​
Starter: How many grains of rice can you donate in the next 15 minutes?  Click on this link to play the game linked to the World Food Programme (WFP). 


Task 1 - Using the Vox video above, please complete the fact finding activity on four countries experiencing massive food shortages. 

Use the PowerPoint template below to structure your work. 


Task 2 - Watch the second video above, and summarise the main reasons why in 2026 people still suffer from hunger and food shortage. 


​So, how do we feed a future 11 billion people?
​

Pessimist - Thomas Malthus
​
​1766-1834
Malthus was writing at the end of the 18th century. He believed that only bad could come from population growth. Population, he said, grows faster than food supply. He said this was because food supply could not possibly keep up with population growth. Remember, this was back in 1798 and agriculture was very different from nowadays. 
Optimist - Ester Boserup 
​
​1910-1999
Boserup said that food supply would increase to accommodate population growth. As a populations found that they were approaching food shortages they would identify ways of increasing supply whether through new technology, better seeds or new farming methods. Today this can be seen in GM and high yield variety crops. 
✏️ Task 1: Key Definitions

Define the following terms in your own words:
  • Pessimist (Malthus) 😟
  • Optimist (Boserup) 😊

Write one clear sentence for each.

🧠 Task 2: Poster Task

You are going to create two posters, one for Thomas Malthus and one for Ester Boserup.

Your posters should explain how each person believed population growth is linked to food supply.

📌 Your poster must include:

✅ Name and dates
  • Full name
  • When they were alive

🖼️ Photo or portrait
  • A picture of each thinker

📖 Their beliefs about population and food
  • Explain how population growth affects food supply
  • Aim for about 50 words for each person

📊 A graph
  • Use the graphs above

👍 One reason to believe their theory
  • Explain why their ideas might be correct

👎 One reason not to believe their theory
  • Explain a weakness or limitation

📰 A recent news headline (2024) ​ 


Population & Food - Written Assessment​

What?

In this assessment, you will explore one of the most important geographical questions of our time:

Can the world feed a rapidly growing population, or are we heading towards serious food shortages?
You will investigate two contrasting viewpoints.
​
  • Malthusian thinkers argue that population growth will eventually outstrip food supply, leading to famine and crisis.
  • Anti-Malthusian thinkers (Boserup) believe that humans can use technology, innovation, and science to increase food production and meet future demand.

You will decide which viewpoint you agree with most, but you must also show that you understand both sides of the argument.
Why? 

This task is designed to help you develop the skills you will need for IGCSE Geography next year.

At IGCSE level, students are expected to:
  • write extended, well-structured answers
  • use data, graphs, maps, and real-world examples
  • explain ideas clearly using geographical language
  • make balanced judgements rather than giving simple opinions

This assessment helps you practise all of these skills in a supported way, without the pressure of exams or fieldwork data collection.
​
Learning how to organise your ideas, explain evidence, and write independently is essential for success in IGCSE Geography and beyond.
Grading​

This is a summative assessment, which means it will be graded and results will be shared with you and your parents.

Your work will be marked using a clear mark scheme with grades from A to E*, based on:
​
  • your geographical knowledge and understanding
  • how well you use facts, data, graphs, and examples
  • the quality of your explanation and judgement
  • the structure and presentation of your report
  • your written communication and use of geographical vocabulary
​
This assessment should take approximately 4- 5 hours to complete. You will have four lessons and homework. 
​
* Produce a 800-1000 word essay (with images / charts / maps)  to explain who you support and justify your decision with facts, data and recent news events to prove your point. 

* However, you must also present the alternative perspective and give some credit as to why that viewpoint is somewhat valid. 

* You could watch the two videos below to help you understand the issues a little more before you start. 

Suggested Structure:

​
1.  Introduction
Describe the two opposing viewpoints to food supply & population growth (Malthus & Boserup). Use graphs to help your explain the relationships between population growth and food production (see above). 


2. Problem Food
What are the food types that are problematic to our planet & our people? (this 5 minute video is excellent). 


3. Population Growth
Describe historical and future global population growth (this graph will help).


4. Feeding 11 Billion People
Describe and explain the problems in trying to feed up to 11 billion people.  Name two places in the world where food shortages are already a problem (BBC Inquiry podcast notes)


5. Future Food
How might our future food change? Give one example of how we might use technology / science to keep up with demand and two examples of future food types (BBC Inquiry podcast notes & videos below) and how they could meet our nutritional needs. 


6. Conclusion
Now tell me what you thoughts are. Are we in for a food revolution or for mass starvation? Are you a 'Malthusian' or an 'Anti Malthusian'? 


​
Formal Requirements

a. A title page with the name of the investigation 'Malthusian or Anti Malthusian - A report by *your name*'. Add a suitable image, your name and the total word count

b. A contents page

c. Number your pages

​d. References page

e. Any images or graphs should have a caption (title) and a figure number. 
​

Food Distribution -The Cake Game
​

Picture
Europe with nearly 1/3 of the whole cake!
Objective: To find out about the inequalities that exist with the supply and provision of food in the developed and developing world (and to eat some cake)

Lesson Plan
PowerPoint
Table Labels
Chance Cards

Continent Cards - To be picked out by each student
How to divide up the cake

This takes some organisation and just about fits in to an hour lesson.
All content copyright geographypods unless otherwise stated. 
Photos from dalecruse, ella.o